Christ’s
College is hosting the conference with the 12 speakers
comprising a mix of positive education and psychology
specialists.

The conference is the brainchild of a group
called 100 Per Cent Project, which is owned by Dr
Lucy Hone, Gemma McCaw, mental skills trainer and counsellor
John Quinn, and former Silver Fern Maree
Bowden.

Quinn, who joined Christ’s College this
year as Director of Wellbeing and Positive Education, says
schools are increasingly taking a new approach to positive
education.

"We know that wellness is the foundation of
success and happiness in our lives. When we’re able build
a strong foundation, we are able to manage the highs and
lows that we all experience in life. This conference will
explore the science around this and give teachers tools to
support themselves and their students inside and outside
school."

At Christ’s College, Quinn is leading a
three-year implementation of a programme that will see
positive education embedded across the school, both inside
and outside the classroom.

“Young people need help to
build resilience, grit and optimism. Our role is to give
them as many tools as we can to manage life. It’s not
about reducing stress, because stress isn’t going to go
away. It’s about having the tools to manage
stress.

“People have a choice about how to live their
lives. Happiness, for most of us, is a choice. I really
believe that people need to continue to work at happiness
– it won’t just arrive – we have to go out and get it.
We need to create positive emotions, to be engaged in what
we’ve doing. What is your meaning and purpose? What are
you doing in your life that you feel a sense of achievement
from?

“We want to get kids to understand that if
you’re giving 100%, what else is there to give. As a
society, we tend to be very outcome focused so we need to
redefine success. It’s not that academic excellence
isn’t important, but an excellent effort is more
important. Success needs to focus on the characteristics
that allow you to be successful such as work ethic and
determination. If you’ve done all you can but you
haven’t quite reached your goal, yes be disappointed but
still celebrate what you’ve done so
far.”

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